Written By: Krista Mitchell
Last Friday, March 22, 2024, the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived: Sam Evian released his fourth studio album Plunge. I saw him live last October as an opener for Tennis, and after looking him up after the concert, I found myself immediately hooked on his 2021 album Time to Melt for its funky vibes and incisive social commentary. Plunge, in contrast, is a gentler album about family, particularly the recently rekindled romance between Evian’s parents. Recorded as a communal effort with his friends in a converted barn studio in the Catskills, the album shifts from the dream-pop motif of Time to Melt back to the folk-inspired soft rock of his second album, You, Forever.
Here’s my take on Plunge, song by song.
- “Wild Days:” An appealing opener with a thrumming bassline that quickly drew me in. This song is a bit repetitive, but has a nice hook in its chorus. It was stuck in my head hours after first listening, which was definitely not a bad thing.
- “Jacket:” Sounds similar to “Wild Days,” although a bit more upbeat, with a punchier bassline and lovely backing vocals. I could definitely sense the Beatles’ influence on this song, especially in the “la-la-la” during the chorus.
- “Rollin’ In:” Evian’s lead single for Plunge, this song is without a doubt the best on the album. “Rollin In” has a comforting melody that feels like waves gently lapping on the shore. I found myself captivated by the saxophone solo at the end of the song, as well as melancholic lyrics such as “a Friday night in a different skin.”
- “Why Does It Take So Long:” This song was not my favorite; its melody felt somewhat simplistic and repetitive, although I liked the nod to early 70s rock as well as the buildup to the instrumental jam at the end of the song.
- “Freakz:” A highlight in the middle of the album that called back to Time to Melt with its eerie synth melody and distorted vocals. I really enjoyed the way the unique sound of this song set it apart from the sonically homogeneous songs that preceded it.
- “Wind Blows:” Returns to the same sound of the other songs on the album. This song didn’t particularly interest me, though I liked the repeating keyboard riff in the background that quietly held the song together.
- “Runaway:” A slow tune with a country drawl that I can see myself listening to during the dog days of summer. This tune reminded me of ragtime music with its prominent use of piano. Definitely drags on a bit; probably my least favorite of the album.
- “Another Way:” This song’s bassline is similar to that of “Wild Days.” A nice listen on its own, but it blends in with the other songs on the album; the questions in the chorus’ lyrics call back to “Why Does It Take So Long.”
- “Stay:” The other single from Plunge, “Stay” is the second strongest offering on this album with its comforting invocation of welcome and acceptance, all served up with a country twang. As an artist myself, I loved the line “[s]o spin a dream no one else is making.”
Overall rating: 6/10
Although there were a few standout tracks on Plunge—namely “Rollin’ In,” “Freakz,” and “Stay”—I felt that many of the songs blurred together due to their similar sound. I was hoping for more of the funky dream-pop that Evian offered on Time to Melt, but that is merely personal preference speaking. Even though this album didn’t grip me as much as his previous ones, I admire how Evian stays true to what interests him as an artist, and strives to create work that feels compassionate and honest. I hope that he will continue to make work that is important to him, and I will be there to give it a listen.